Effect of Low-Density Polyethylene on the Stripping Properties under Fatigue Loading of Binder Layer of HMA Mixtures

Abstract

The most important problems in the Iraqi Road network that’s associated with repetitions of excessive axel traffic loading. This problem will be increased with availability of moisture, its guide to moisture damage or stripping in hot mix asphalt .In this study, it is used the low-density polyethylene polymer (LDPE). It's cheap, and available as local material (particles) in Baghdad Plastic Factories or bags of soft plastic waste, therefore; it's based by searching about the active range of developing asphalt upon moisture damage, and searching about admixture optimum polymer ratio to be added to asphalt to increase stripping resistance. The local materials were used as AL-Daurah Refinery asphalt that have penetration (40-50) or, (PG64-16) and nominal aggregate (19) mm from AL-Nibaie Quarry that’s used in binder asphalt pavement. Prepared five percentage of polymer (1%,2%,3%,4%,5%) was added to optimum designed asphalt of (4.8%) by weight and then results were compared with original asphalt and studying the mechanical, and physical properties of asphalt mix. The better polymer percentage found as (3%) for developing the specification of resistance stripping and this characteristic developed to ratio (33.1%) at temperature (25℃ ), and (26.7%) at (60℃ ).